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Question

PC hardware issue.

Oct 21, 2015 1:32PM PDT

I've been building PCs for nearly 30 years but this issue has got me puzzled. So there I was transcoding a video and PC just went off. No flash, no bang, just off. Right first thought PSU has died. Got an old PSU and tried that - no joy. Took both PSUs and did the insert paper clip into mains plug to test if they are actually working - both PSUs came on with this test. So has to be motherboard. Bought a new motherboard, inserted CPU, RAM and connected cables, turned on got message "No display". Swapped out graphic card for an old one that doesn't need any power straight from PSU - still no display. Swapped out PSUs - same message. Right has to be CPU. Bought new CPU, installed it on new board, turned on, power light came on, heard CPU fan speeding up and down but still no display. Cleared CMOS tried again - same result, swapped out RAM from another machine, swapped PSUs (again) - same result. Machine sounds like it is trying to start but no display. Moved entire machine to a different power outlet in house - no joy. Tomorrow, out of desperation, a new PSU will arrive. If this don't work I am lost. The whole system will be new. I don't connect HDDs/SSDs when powering on as all I want to see is the POST screen.
What is going on?

Discussion is locked

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I believe the board is the important part.
Oct 26, 2015 6:22AM PDT

If the board is of the same part number then it should be ok. I don't think they check the s/n. As for license, I don't think it belong to you, it really belong to the computer, especially if it's an OEM..which mean it belong to THAT particular computer (I believe I got that right).

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So what kind of license did you use...
Oct 26, 2015 6:37AM PDT

OEM or retail? If it's retail then you have no worry.

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License.
Oct 26, 2015 12:19PM PDT

I upgraded both my PCs from Windows 7 Retail, One full version on disc the other a Win 7 Upgrade on disc.

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Its a new motherboard.
Oct 26, 2015 12:18PM PDT

So?

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Retail license can go to any computer.
Oct 26, 2015 2:46PM PDT

One computer per license but you probably have to talk to Microsoft but should be no problem as far as I understand this licensing business.

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wait..a thought just pop up.
Oct 26, 2015 6:26PM PDT

maybe usb, but how do you configure that?

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Answer
license has nothing to do with the problem
Oct 26, 2015 3:03PM PDT

at this point I see absolutely nothing that would show there is a license violation nor anything else regarding the license.

did you try the onboard video?? or a different monitor??? or monitor cable?

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But the 2 board don't have vga connector so...
Oct 26, 2015 6:22PM PDT

how/where do you connect the on-board video?

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Well
Oct 26, 2015 7:01PM PDT

He would have to purchase a VGA card
or
a USB 2.0 /3.0 to VGA / DVI / HDMI Video Graphics Adapter

easy peasy man Wink

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A VGA card?
Oct 26, 2015 7:11PM PDT

Motherboard doesn't have a VGA slot, besides I already posted that I've tried the monitor and cables on another PC and they work.

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Oldartq asked
Oct 26, 2015 7:21PM PDT

how you would connect a monitor to either of the 2 motherboards you have since there are no video connectors

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Eh?
Oct 26, 2015 7:26PM PDT

A PCIE video card, not a VGA.

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thought you were gonna
Oct 26, 2015 7:37PM PDT

use the Phenom II x 2 for the on board graphics , than you only need a way to connect and not a video card. Confused

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Phenom...
Oct 26, 2015 8:36PM PDT

... CPUs don't have graphic capabilities. And as I already mentioned the motherboards don't have any graphics connection, you MUST use a video card.

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Actually that question wasn't intended for you...
Oct 26, 2015 11:44PM PDT

nor itsdigger. I am sorry I confuse the whole issue. I'll just keep my shut....for awhile.

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Sorry
Oct 27, 2015 12:16AM PDT

It's a forum, everyone pitches in.

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And that was not intend either hahaha. sorry
Oct 27, 2015 10:38AM PDT

That replied was a rhetorical question intended for renegade600. Anyway let's forget everything. start over! English is my 2nd language. How's that for excuse. hehe.

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No PCI slot?
Oct 27, 2015 8:01AM PDT

I keep a couple old PCI slot video cards around for test purposes. They are dirt cheap and almost all motherboards now and for years before keep at least one PCI slot on them.

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you did not say that
Oct 27, 2015 1:21PM PDT

you did not say that you tried the monitor and cables on another machine in your original post. and since you did not mention the exact motherboard mother model you are using, assumptions can be made.

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use a little common since
Oct 27, 2015 1:25PM PDT

he did not mention the motherboard model so some assumptions can be made. for all I know the board that is being used also as integrated video card. I made the suggestion in case it was available if not, then no harm done. Except for the stupid comments by you.

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Answer
Result!
Oct 29, 2015 5:58AM PDT

Got an AMD Athlon II today popped it on, outside case assembly, graphic card, CPU, memory, cooler of course and just the power switch front panel connecter and BINGO! Got me a display. So it is the FX CPUs or more specifically the BIOS on the board is outdated which is UNBELIEVABLE seeing as these CPUs have been around for years now. Going to update BIOS if I can, if I can't find an update then the board goes back. Two weeks of bother, lots of ordering/returning items for this!

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And...
Oct 29, 2015 6:00AM PDT

... thanks for all your comments and suggestions. Nice to know you're not alone. Wink

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Finally.
Oct 29, 2015 6:15AM PDT

There is no BIOS update. I have the latest. Board has to go.

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Thanks for the feedback.
Oct 29, 2015 9:22AM PDT

So we all have learned.

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Yes, thanks for the feedback
Oct 29, 2015 5:52PM PDT

Always helps for future such problem diagnosis.

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New board...
Oct 30, 2015 4:56AM PDT

... ASRock 970 Pro 3 Rev 2.0. Doesn't show display with FX CPUs only Athlon II works. Are there any boards that just work out of the box with a FX CPU?

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Here's one with integrted graphic.
Oct 30, 2015 8:09AM PDT
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Look for motherboards with ...
Oct 30, 2015 1:12PM PDT

....the black socket on it. It also has bigger holes for the better "pins" on the FX processor. It is also backward compatible to the AM3 and AM3+ processors. These FX motheboards are favored due to the larger holes on the socket than the white socket shields which makes it easier to insert both the FX and older processors, even if a pin is slightly bent.

For example this Gigabyte motherboard makes it apparent and it's not that different than the one that didn't support the FX processor.

Mainboard


Chipset Type: AMD 970

Compatible Processors: Athlon II , Athlon II X2 , Athlon II X3 , Athlon II X4 , FX , Opteron , Phenom II X2 , Phenom II X3 , Phenom II X4 , Phenom II X6 , Sempron

Data Bus Transfer Rate: 4.8 GT/s

Form Factor: ATX

I/O Controller: AMD SB950

Power Connectors: 24-pin main power connector , 8-pin ATX12V connector

Processor Socket: Socket AM3+

RAM Slots: 4 DIMM slots

Supported RAM Speed: 1066 MHz , 1333 MHz , 1600 MHz , 1866 MHz , 2000 MHz (O.C.)

Supported RAM Technology: DDR3 SDRAM

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FX support on that Asus board
Oct 30, 2015 2:24PM PDT

FX Supposed to work on that Asus motherboard. Has the black socket shield on it too. Did you get this used, or new?

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/M5A97_LE_R20/specifications/

Notice the two video slots are NOT exactly the same. Might make a difference on which is used for the type video card.

1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (blue)
1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (x4 mode, black)


Why not use the AM3 processor with it, toss a single stick of 4GB for $23 on it, use this $15 USB3 flashdrive instead of a hard drive for Linux, and have an inexpensive but fully capable setup when added to an existing case with PSU. Linux runs from USB flashdrive just like it was an internal hard drive. I keep several on hand here myself for booting problem windows computers with at times to fix what's messed up, or just to pull data from them.

4GB RAM is plenty for Linux. I can run Firefox, Thunderbird, be watching a video and barely top 1GB RAM in use. The biggest draw is when I run a virtual windows system inside Linux from VM Virtual Box and have assigned it 2-2.5GB shared RAM, then I get close to the 4GB RAM use. Just running Linux without a guest virtual system also running at the same time, I never go over the 2GB RAM limit. I use Mint Linux MATE.


all Kingston RAM for it.

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I bought it new.
Oct 30, 2015 5:34PM PDT

New boards and new FX-6300. Tried it with 6300 and 6100 neither worked. Only an Athlon II that I got used worked. I always install Graphics card in the top slot, the x16.